ABOUT US
On January 15, 1989, the choreographer and folklorist Nicolae Gribincea founded the first boys' group alongside the Romanian-French theoretical high school “Gheorghe Asachi,” which he named “Stejăreii.” He started with children, convinced that they should be nurtured from a young age, instilling in them a love that would later bear fruit. He worked with the first generation for ten years, and they had the opportunity to perform at the National Palace in Chișinău together with the group “Teleormanul,” led by Liviu Vasilică.
Since 1999, the ensemble has been active under the name “Plăieșii” at the National Palace of Creativity for Children and Adolescents and has been honored with the title of Model Collective, awarded by the Ministry of Culture. Such a male-only vocal group was a necessity in our Basarabian region. Until 2015, they performed under the patronage of the Botanical Sector Prefecture of Chișinău Municipality.
Since 1999, the ensemble has been active under the name “Plăieșii” at the National Palace of Creativity for Children and Adolescents and has been honored with the title of Model Collective, awarded by the Ministry of Culture. Such a male-only vocal group was a necessity in our Basarabian region. Until 2015, they performed under the patronage of the Botanical Sector Prefecture of Chișinău Municipality.
Only a small part of their repertoire, which includes hundreds of pieces, can be included in a single show. For this reason, their concerts are thematic. They always seek to find different ways to stage this repertoire. Nicolae Gribincea never abandons the advice of specialists in order to find the right formula for each piece. It is important to have a perfect symbiosis between the spoken word, the musical language, and the manner of interpretation.
“Plăieșii” preserve authenticity in everything they do because they are an ethno-folkloric ensemble. They have not given up this designation precisely to avoid drifting away from traditional folklore. Over the years, they have had the opportunity to sing and record with several professional orchestras, but they decided that to maintain the song’s rural aura, they must return to folk accompaniment.
Today, all recordings and performances of “Plăieșii” are accompanied by a group of instrumentalists consisting of: violas, cobza, pan flute, drum, flute, violin, and double bass.
“Plăieșii” preserve authenticity in everything they do because they are an ethno-folkloric ensemble. They have not given up this designation precisely to avoid drifting away from traditional folklore. Over the years, they have had the opportunity to sing and record with several professional orchestras, but they decided that to maintain the song’s rural aura, they must return to folk accompaniment.
Today, all recordings and performances of “Plăieșii” are accompanied by a group of instrumentalists consisting of: violas, cobza, pan flute, drum, flute, violin, and double bass.
The first generations who went through the ensemble found it difficult to master choreographic folklore. They wanted to sing more and dance less, but Nicolae Gribincea’s argument was this: “You cannot be half an artist. A complete artist knows how to sing, dance, recite, and perform a traditional ritual chant.” That is why, as a professional choreographer, the director insists that the shows include choreographic sequences as well.
February 16, 2017, marked a milestone for the ethno-folkloric ensemble “Plăieșii,” summarizing 25 years of achievements. The first anniversary show, performed by Nicolae Gribincea and “Plăieșii,” was titled “At the House of Good People.” During the event, they released their first two CDs, which proved to be eagerly awaited by the public. Obviously, this was the moment they realized the need to bring these folkloric gems—collected from informants or created by Nicolae Gribincea—into the recording studio, giving their admirers the chance to listen to them whenever they wished. How do they manage to captivate their audience? Through sincerity and the fact that they sing first and foremost for themselves, and then for those around them.
The ethno-folkloric ensemble “Plăieșii” has won awards at numerous district, municipal, and national festivals, such as “Live and Flourish,” “White Flowers,” “We Keep Wishing,” “At the Hearth of the Dances,” “For You, Lord,” “On Honor, On Duty,” “The Bells Ring,” “Light the Lights,” and others. They have also performed successfully abroad: in 1989 in Moscow; 1996 and 1997 in Bucharest and Iași; 1998 in Milan; 2008 in Chernivtsi; 2016 in Vilnius, Padua, Bologna; 2019 in Bacău; and 2020 in Madrid, Iași, and Suceava.
The ethno-folkloric ensemble “Plăieșii” has won awards at numerous district, municipal, and national festivals, such as “Live and Flourish,” “White Flowers,” “We Keep Wishing,” “At the Hearth of the Dances,” “For You, Lord,” “On Honor, On Duty,” “The Bells Ring,” “Light the Lights,” and others. They have also performed successfully abroad: in 1989 in Moscow; 1996 and 1997 in Bucharest and Iași; 1998 in Milan; 2008 in Chernivtsi; 2016 in Vilnius, Padua, Bologna; 2019 in Bacău; and 2020 in Madrid, Iași, and Suceava.
Discography
2021 – “Dragoste, floare din rai”
2021 – “Pentr-un pui de lelișoară”
2020 – “În leagănul cerului“
2019 – “Omul cât trăiește-n lume”
2019 – “Sloboade-ne gazdă-n casă”
2019 – “La omul care mi-i drag II”
2018 – “Joc și cântec fecioresc”
2017 – “Tot cu dragostea și dorul”
2016 – “La casa cu oameni buni”
2010 – “La omul care mi-i drag”
2007 – “Am venit să colindăm”
2021 – “Pentr-un pui de lelișoară”
2020 – “În leagănul cerului“
2019 – “Omul cât trăiește-n lume”
2019 – “Sloboade-ne gazdă-n casă”
2019 – “La omul care mi-i drag II”
2018 – “Joc și cântec fecioresc”
2017 – “Tot cu dragostea și dorul”
2016 – “La casa cu oameni buni”
2010 – “La omul care mi-i drag”
2007 – “Am venit să colindăm”